Go ahead, take a peek at the ingredients in conventional cleaning supplies. Are those ingredients ones you would feel comfortable breathing in or ingesting? Of course not! But that’s what can happen when you spray a commercial cleaner or let your pet crawl on a freshly cleaned floor. Chemicals sneak into our homes (and bodies) in various ways, whether it’s from using a plug-in air freshener, commercial cleaning product, wax-based candle or even the chemicals in our paint, flooring and furniture. The toxic ingredients can easily be inhaled or absorbed, which is not good for obvious reasons!
There’s so much in the environment we can’t control; however, what we bring into our homes is something we can — so here’s a few tips for ditching the chemicals and switching to natural products for your health and home!
1. Put down the air freshener. You don’t need to spray chemicals to freshen the air; simply add a few plants. Plants absorb the bad stuff and create good, clean air for you to breathe. It’s recommended you have
two plants for every 100 square feet of space in your home.
2. Speaking of clean scents, unplug the unhealthy, chemical-based air fresheners and plug IN a diffuser filled with water and essential oils instead. Scent as nature intended it, with no harmful side effects!
3. Did you know that wax-based candles can also be harmful for air quality and health? Switch to soy-based candles to avoid the petroleum by-products of wax candle use. Or ditch the candles altogether and see tip #2.
4. Choose a low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. Paint can give off toxic fumes well after it’s dry, so choosing a low- or no-VOC paint is a smart move … especially in rooms where children or babies will spend time.
5. Make your own chemical-free cleaners! Creating your own cleaning products is as easy as stopping by the grocery store. You’ll save money, AND the ingredients aren’t nearly as harmful as their chemical counterparts. Here’s a few favorite ideas:
- Use lemon rinds to freshen up garbage disposals.
- Mix baking soda and vinegar to clean dirty grout.
- ¼ cup of vinegar makes a great replacement for fabric softener in your washing machine.
- Lemon essential oil will get rid of sticky residue in seconds flat.
Looking for more ways to freshen your space without chemicals? Here are
seven budget-friendly ways to freshen your home naturally.
Ditching the chemicals and switching to natural products doesn’t have to be painful or expensive. Start with one step at a time; make it a goal to try one new natural way a month, and at the end of the year, you’ll have taken giant steps towards a healthier, less toxic home!
